Customizer Mallett Stuffs 600-hp Into Pontiac Solstice
Date posted: 12-20-2005

BEREA, Ohio — Mallett, the Ohio producer of custom Cadillacs and Corvettes, has kicked the Pontiac Solstice up a notch with a V8 engine as the centerpiece of several performance packages ranging in price from $18,000 to $38,995.

The packages, which the tuner says adds "all the horsepower of the Corvette crammed into the Pontiac Solstice," are available now.

The base engine in the Solstice is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 177 horsepower. The Mallett Solstice standard features include GM's V8 LS2 engine that is rated at 400 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 400 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. The base package includes high-performance brake pads, a short-throw shifter, Luk Gold clutch, and Mallett graphics on the seat headrests. Optional equipment includes a six-speed Tremac transmission, 19-inch alloy wheels and tires, and a supercharger.

The top-of-the-line Solstice conversion package includes GM's supercharged 600-hp LS2 V8, modified shock absorbers and performance springs, stainless-steel mufflers, Mallett body graphics, and custom number plaque and badging.

What this means to you: Mallett beefs up the Solstice with a big dose of horsepower.

I'm sure it can be modified to handle the power, but it's just not the point of the car. It's supposed to be a fun, affordable roadster. Handling is much more important than power ever will be in a car like this, and anyone cramming in a V8 is missing the point. If someone wanted a fun, powerful roadster they'd probably just get a Corvette convertible to start with.

So the Cobra missed the point? What about everyone that mods their civics & cobalts? Isn't the point behind something like this to simply have fun & push the limits of what you can do? Not everyone is going to take their car to the local SCCA event & needs for the car to handle like it's on rails. Most of the time people wont even use 50% of it's power, the point is simply that they can.

i think it may be the same principle as that car that nismo was going to get .. it was a 5 litre mustang V8 in an MX5 .. there is too much weight in the front, and too much power in such a small car

When I was looking up the information on it, the site said it had a 48/52 weight distribution after relocating the battery to the back.

fun, like group B rally car fun. haha, i foresee many accidental deaths in that car...

/\ It doesnt mean it wouldnt be FUN.

Even Shelby said the Cobra would kill you in a second, but that was part of its character. The Cobra was a great car, so I guess with that you have a fair point. But I didn't say that the car had to handle on rails, it's just I think all the power would dilute the appeal of a roadster such as the Solstice as it would the Miata or the Lotus Elise. If people won't use 50% of the power most of the time, why bother? It's not like the stock Solstice was a sloth or anythng. I'm also not a big fan of modified Civics or Cobalts...but I mean, whatever floats your boat because that's just personal preference. I'd just save the money from the mods, and get a nicer car instead of gradually pouring money into an econobox.

the 427 cobras handled like ass but made up for it on the straights, it was the 289s that could handle

Mazda Killer

But if the straight was long enough, like the Mulsanne at Le Mans, it would kill you anyway because the rear end would lift off at ~150 mph... Therefore they made the Daytona coupe, a car that could handle the power...